Remembering Professor Emeritus, Provost Roy Wood
Professor Emeritus Roy Wood, a University of Denver alumnus, former provost and longtime member of the faculty, died on Oct. 1.
Wood earned his BA, MA and PhD at DU and returned to campus to serve as provost and later to teach in and chair the Department of Communications Studies. He served the University for nearly 32 years.
Wood's work in communication ethics made a significant impact on his discipline and our community. His published research addressed communication ethics from many angles, ranging from city politics to the place of speech in the philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas. The Center for Civic Ethics, which he directed, was a model of community-engaged scholarship, bringing the University and the Denver Board of Ethics into conversation. Wood continued to serve on the Denver Board of Ethics after his retirement from DU and until earlier this year. In the classroom, his teaching deepened students' knowledge of ethics and allowed them to explore, among other topics, the philosophy of communication and the application of qualitative methods. In 2014, he was honored by the National Communication Association for his teaching.
Those who knew him as a colleague and professor will remember his generosity as a mentor, his artwork that hung on the walls of the office, his sense of humor, and the ways he touched so many lives. A memorial service is planned for Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. at Wellshire Presbyterian Church, 2999 S Colorado Blvd. Condolences can be sent to 938 Ivanhoe St, Denver, CO 80220.
If you are in need of support during this time, please utilize the University’s Employee Assistance Program.
- Employee Assistance Program: SupportLinc is the University’s employee assistance program. DU employees and their family members can access counseling and receive professional referrals to other experts. Call 1-888-881-LINC [5462] or log in to the SupportLinc website with username: universityofdenver.
Sincerely,
Corinne Lengsfeld
Interim Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor